S3E6: Letting Knowledge and Nature In

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 6, Letting Knowledge and Nature In: Science and Sustainability Education in Prison. This season is all about the Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP), how they bring education, nature and training into the prisons to reduce recidivism and protect and enhance our environment. This season is seven episodes long. If you’ve missed any episodes, you can go back in our arc-hives and listen.  So far, you’ve heard how it all started; a background on the prison system and an introduction to SPP; how SPP is a network of partners working to bring education and nature into the prison system; we’ve also learn more about the SPP Conservation Programs and the Native Plant Nurseries; and rearing endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterflies at the Mission Creek Correctional Facility.

In this episode we will have our final interview of the season with Kelli Bush, SPP Co-Director and introduce Emily Passarelli, Education and Outreach Manager for SPP.  We’ll be chatting with them about SPP’s science education programs in Washington prisons.

Guests in this Episode

Kelli Bush

Kelli Bush is the Co-Director of the Sustainability in Prisons Project. She helps bring nature, science and environmental education into prisons in Washington. She also leads staff from The Evergreen State College that coordinate programs in the prisons. She has a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Ecology from The Evergreen State College.

Emily Passarelli

Emily Passarelli is the Education and Outreach Manager at The Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP). She first worked with SPP as a graduate student from 2015-2017 as the Green Track Program Coordinator. While there she helped coordinate Roots of Success and helped develop the framework for the statewide Beekeeping Program. After she graduated, she went on to work with Centralia College at the Washington Corrections Center as their Education Program Manager. In 2021, she rejoined the SPP Team as the Education and Outreach Manager.

SPP Education Programs

Kelli Bush starts us off by explaining what the Education Programs portion of SPP is.  While all of SPP’s programs include education, there were some programs they weren’t sure how to categorize so they created a catch-all Education bucket.  Some of the programs in this bucket include peer-led gardening and composting, beekeeping certifications, and the environmental engagement workshop series.  

Education in Prison 

Offering education in prison definitely has its challenges, because prisons weren’t designed with education in mind.  Finding classroom space, accessing technology, lack of internet, and